2016 Tesla Model S: Problems & Reliability
AVOID2016 Tesla Model S: AVOID — 604 owner complaints, 4.6× the Model S median year by raw count.
CarWhere's verdict score for the 2016 is 2.19, where 1.00 is a typical Model S year once complaints are weighted for severity and spread over time on the road; the avoid line is 1.60, so this year clears it by 0.59. Most complaints are about non-critical systems; only 33% are severe (crash, fire, injury or a safety-critical system).
Sources: NHTSA owner complaints (ODI), recall campaigns and manufacturer service bulletins, CarWhere verified buyer prices · Model years 2015–2026 compared · Updated 2026-11-07 · By CarWhere Research · Methodology
604
NHTSA complaints
4.6×
vs. median Model S year
99
Service bulletins
10
Recall campaigns
2016 Tesla Model S recalls
10 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2016, reported between Apr 19, 2017 and May 28, 2024.
| NHTSA campaign | Reported | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 24V376000 | May 28, 2024 | Seat belts › Front › Warning light/devices |
| 24V051000 | Jan 30, 2024 | Electrical system › Instrument cluster/panel |
| 23V838000 | Dec 12, 2023 | Electrical system › Adas › Autonomous/self driving › Software |
| 23V085000 | Feb 15, 2023 | Steering › Automated/adaptive steering |
| 22V037000 | Jan 27, 2022 | Electrical system › Adas › Autonomous/self driving › Software |
| 21V00B000 | Dec 21, 2021 | Latches, locks & linkages › Hood › Latch |
| 21V035000 | Jan 29, 2021 | Backup camera / back-over prevention › Software |
| 19V002000 | Jan 7, 2019 | Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module |
| 18V204000 | Mar 29, 2018 | Steering › Electric power assist system |
| 17V260000 | Apr 19, 2017 | Parking brake |
2016 Tesla Model S service bulletins
The manufacturer has filed 99 technical service bulletins with NHTSA for the 2016 — more than the 76 of the median Model S year from 2015 to 2026. Coded bulletins most often cover electrical system (11), seats (8), equipment adaptive/mobility (8). Bulletins are repair instructions for dealer technicians, not recalls.
The 2016 vs. the year before and after
From the 2015 to the 2016, owner complaints held roughly level (647 → 604). The 2017 that followed fell 37% (604 → 379), so the 2017 has the lighter record so far.
| Model year | Verdict | Complaints | Bulletins | Recalls | Avg. buyer-paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 Model S | AVOID | 647 | 97 | 9 | — |
| 2016 (this page) | AVOID | 604 | 99 | 10 | — |
| 2017 Model S | CAUTION | 379 | 92 | 9 | — |
Prices are averages of CarWhere verified buyer transactions (shown when 3+ deals exist for the year). Full year-by-year table: Tesla Model S years to avoid.
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FAQ
Is the 2016 Tesla Model S reliable?
2016 Tesla Model S: AVOID — 604 owner complaints, 4.6× the Model S median year by raw count. CarWhere's verdict score for the 2016 is 2.19, where 1.00 is a typical Model S year once complaints are weighted for severity and spread over time on the road; the avoid line is 1.60, so this year clears it by 0.59.
What are the most common 2016 Tesla Model S problems?
The 2016 Tesla Model S has 604 NHTSA owner complaints and 99 manufacturer service bulletins on file; the component breakdown is on NHTSA's record for this model year.
How many recalls does the 2016 Tesla Model S have?
10 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2016 Tesla Model S, most recently 24V376000 (May 28, 2024, seat belts); 24V051000 (Jan 30, 2024, electrical system); 23V838000 (Dec 12, 2023, electrical system). Recall completion is VIN-specific, so check the exact car.
How do I check a specific 2016 Tesla Model S before buying?
Decode the VIN free at carwhere.com/tools/vin-decoder to confirm the build, then run the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report for the exact VIN — recall, complaint, and service-bulletin record for this model year, the original window sticker where the manufacturer publishes one, and a market price check from verified buyers. One-time purchase, no subscription.
Sources & method
Complaint, recall and service-bulletin counts for the 2016 Tesla Model S come from NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation; the verdict is CarWhere’s severity-weighted, time-on-road-adjusted score compared with the model’s own median year. The live complaint feed was unavailable at render, so the complaint count is the verdict engine’s stored count. Complaints are owner allegations, not verified defects. Full methodology.